lectures; yay or nay?

fatwarren

hi i would like to hear from anyone who doesnt attend lectures. i got some results back today and i am disappointed with them. ive been considering spending more time in the library rather than going to lectures as i fail to see their significance. i think it would be more productive spending time on assignments and exam papers in the library rather than going too and frow to lectures. i think lectures and how they're structured interfere a lot with study and eat up my time leaving me with work to do at the weekends and holidays. am i better off going to the library from 9-4 every day and just go to tutorials which mark attendance?

Xqzciara

fatwarren wrote: »

too and frow to lectures.

you should probably go to lectures

gugleguy

fatwarren wrote: »

hi i would like to hear from anyone who doesnt attend lectures. i got some results back today and i am disappointed with them. ive been considering spending more time in the library rather than going to lectures as i fail to see their significance. i think it would be more productive spending time on assignments and exam papers in the library rather than going too and frow to lectures. i think lectures and how they're structured interfere a lot with study and eat up my time leaving me with work to do at the weekends and holidays. am i better off going to the library from 9-4 every day and just go to tutorials which mark attendance?

ok, i'll puncture your dreamworld directly - how they're structured first of all -> Lecturers here will get first preference. All students are secondary here.
you had homework from secondary school I presume, assigned by Mr Teacher for weekend too - did'nt you?

irish_goat

It depends on what you're studying really. I've passed and got decent marks in 4 sociology modules without going to the lectures. I've gotten away with skipping a good few economics lectures but only for certain modules.

A lot of the time I find lectures can be very boring and sometimes slowpaced and repetitive. And being realistic, unless it's showing how to do certain formulas or something there's nothing the lecturer can teach that a book can't.

Again, depends on you're subject. You could probably test it. Go to a lecture and then write down everything you learnt/remember from it. And then do the same after an hour in the library and see which is better.

Kinski

It's not an either/or thing; you're supposed to do both. Apart from a couple of modules taught by dreadful lecturers who should just have given up teaching, most of the lectures in my subjects fell somewhere between useful and extremely interesting and stimulating.

That campus is not some massive, sprawling space that is incredibly time-consuming to get around either. It's possible to spend long, productive sessions in the library and go to lectures.

fatwarren

Xqzciara wrote: »

you should probably go to lectures

<snip>

CaoimH_in

Totally ban-worthy, I'd edit, edit, edit, quite quickly!

Xqzciara

fatwarren wrote: »

<snip>

this was snipped before I got to read it, Im intrigued now

sadie06

Go to your lectures if you can. I'm a third year, and had to miss every second lecture for a particular module in semester 1, as I was working. Boy did it show at exam time! I really struggled to prepare, and felt like I was starting from scratch.

You can't always rely on moodle to give you a good idea of what a lecturer wants in assignments and in the exam. On Monday, at the first lecture for a new module, the lecturer ran through the reading list very quickly, making comments such as "She's only good on blah blah....ignore the rest" or "He is excellent on this, but the rest is outdated".

None of this is on moodle, and he won't be saying it again!

J.D.R

As has been said, I'd go more so to the Nay category for some of my modules (Economics) as, once you flick through the moodle notes to get the topics the lecturer plans to cover, there are countless books available in the library for all levels of learning the information.

One thing I did find however was that, during the middle part of the semesters, when the class sizes start to dwindle down to about a third or less of the actual size, that's when the lecturer will really start to narrow down the exam hints

Stinjy

If the lecturer is terrible boring and you find yourself doing other things maybe skip that one and go to the library for an hour, but I wouldn't be skipping them all, as if you find every lecturer you have boring, well the subject probably isn't for you..

however I know today for example, we had a lecture, and we were told how something relates back to what we were learning and it took about 15-20 minutes to explain, those who weren't there wont get that info as it wasn't in the notes or anything, but made the notes make more sense and gave a practical application.

but I do acknowledge there are some terribly awful lecturers and its tedious sitting in their lectures because you'll hate them, those I'd skip some of maybe if you were going to put an hour in, but still wouldn't skip them all, first and the last few are most important I'd say but also give them a chance, one lecture doesn't dictate them all

DB21

Xqzciara wrote: »

this was snipped before I got to read it, Im intrigued now

Honestly doesn't deserve repeating what he said.

itzme

It really depends on the subject to be honest, if I was to give a broad generalisation I would say go to lectures.
If you talk to any lecturer you will be told the same story there is a extremely strong correlation between those who attend lectures and high marks and those who don't attend lectures and failure. Thats not to say there aren't exceptions to this, but remember these are exceptions not the norm. Again if I was to generalise, it would be to say that those who go to all lectures show determination and that extends to their study which is why they get good grades. Those who don't go show an apathy or a desire to make excuses and reasons not to go, which they then do while studying as well. Again these are generalisations and there are exceptions but how many times in life have you been that one exception that disproves the rule.
I'd say I attended half my lectures during my degree, and did find a number of them either boring or completely capable of being studied out of the books and getting good grades. Its worth noting that this is also a short term approach of cramming and getting good grades and now later I can tell you I wish I had gone to the lectures, listened and paid attention. So many of my modules I studied would be useful to me now and I have little memory of them because all I did was commit them to short term memory to get a good grade. Try and think a little longer term rather than the next few hours.

Xqzciara

Xqzciara wrote: »

you should probably go to lectures

not to mention it's "yea or nay"

go to your lectures

Noobjockey

Admittedly, some lectures can be annoyingly boring but I wouldn't really use this as a reason not to go. Even if you think they're wasting your time, you'll find you pick up hints and tips throughout the year. You never know when an important bit of information is going to be revealed! It's also the perfect place to ask for help with past exam questions or just a certain topic within that subject, since, you know, the lecturer is actually there...

Don't start skipping them because you think they take up too much time. Lecturers aren't idiots, they know how much work they're giving you. They're not going to kill you with assignments and they know that students have lives. If you're complaining that you have to work during the weekends and holidays, you've obviously got some warped idea of what college is about. Yeah there's drinking and partying and all that. You still have to earn your degree though. Work hard, play hard, my friend!

mp3guy

You'll never get exam tips in the library.

Alt_Grrr

mp3guy wrote: »

You'll never get exam tips in the library.

Oh you'll get exam tips, it'll just be that one that won't help you...
"You should have gone to lectures"

Seren_

DB21 wrote: »

Honestly doesn't deserve repeating what he said.

[In reference to DB21's sig, which I may have thought was part of his post >.>:]That actually tends to happen quite a bit on AH. There was one amazing one a while back (something like "Irish women are prudes" and underneath was "are Irish women too easy?").

And OP, I think it's a good idea to go to your lectures (although I assume you probably are unable to read this response atm :pac:). There's some things that just aren't in books, or are impossible to remember. I suppose it depends on your style of learning though. For example, I wouldn't remember half the stuff I did in class if I read it as opposed to hear the lecturer say it, because I just don't tend to take in stuff that well by reading it.

mickstupp

I'd be screwed without my lectures. I missed three weeks of them last semester due to money and sickness woes. Although I kept up with the textbook and exercises, what I missed was the lecturer explaining why I was wrong. I knew I'd made mistakes but couldn't figure out what they were.

In other courses, if you skip class you don't hear the various stresses lecturers put on certain areas, or words. That can be really important for figuring out the bits they personally think are important. Aiming towards those in the exam can give you an extra few marks. It's not often that appears in the general class notes.

Besides, if they see you at every class, you make an effort, maybe call into them and ask a random question... they get to know you. They get the impression you give a damn. And maybe if you're hovering on a 59 or 69, they might give you the benefit of the doubt. If they look you up and think "I've never seen that guy before", they won't really be inclined to go through your paper another time to see if they can dig up an extra mark.

freeze4real

Going to lectures or not doesn't guraantee that you pass or get excellent grades.

it depends on a number of variables( economics term).
posters have mentioned subject which is true.

It also depends on the individual, as well as how effective theior study is.

Look you might study from 9 -4 and gain nothing, so whats the point.
or whats the point in going to lectures if you daydream ?


I attend ,most lectures except 9.00am ones but I've various ways of catching up and getting more information e.g youtube( depends on your course). I mostly use youtube for economics and business. I also use boards as weell. I talk to my mates and some mature students then the lectures.

Point is going to the libaray or lexture wont boost your grades that much its up to the individual to study and work efficiently.

OP its not the end of the world, if you dont like your grades you can still improve them by getting good grades this semster, and you can repeat some exams during your final year but it will cost you money and time.

unclejunior

op everyones different. i rarely go to lectures and do just fine. some lectures are a complete waste of time. i had a module last semester which was assessed by a 5,000 word assignment and no exam. the assignment which we had to undertake had nothing to do with what was thought in class . however it was possible to fail the module if you didn't attend class ...quite silly if you ask me.

i had an interesting discussion with one of the administrators of the history department. i wanted to do a certain elective in first semester but i was 'too late' according to her. she said that the electives in question were on a first come first serve basis. i told her that i wasn't aware of this, and her argument was that if everyone wanted to attend their elective of choice, then some classes would be empty and the lecturers there would have nothing to teach. :eek: god forbid op, could you imagine, lecturers with nothing to teach??? how could they justify getting paid!!!!

Stevonicus

Go to lectures and study. I learned this the hard way last semester. First year went by grand but this year hasn't gone so well.

funky penguin

Jesus man you're in college, go to your bloody lectures.

unclejunior

funky penguin wrote: »

Jesus man you're in college, go to your bloody lectures.

a well thought out answer from a cool, hip, conformist.

Norrdeth

A nice comeback, are these accusations founded?

funky penguin

Absolutely not!

I've never been cool or hip!

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

unclejunior wrote: »

a well thought out answer from a cool, hip, conformist.

pot kettle black

OP, your lecturers write and mark your exam paper. for the most part lecturers dont want students to fail, and will give exam hints in class, which can reduce your revision workload by days. Colleges dont just hand out degrees though, my last 6 months in maynooth were hell, I had no life.

How so Joe

Lewis Slow Cloverleaf wrote: »

unclejunior wrote: »

a well thought out answer from a cool, hip, conformist.

pot kettle black

I'm mostly wondering why it took three weeks to come up with a reply which wasn't particularly cutting.
Also, on topic, go to lectures. It gives you a much clearer idea of what the lecturer focuses on, which in turn will help to predict your exams.